Sex determination of papaya plants derived from seed and micro-propagation Kaluram*, Vasugi C., Thomas Pious, Dinesh M. R., Nandeesha P.1 Division of Fruit crops, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesaraghatta Lake, Bengaluru, Karnataka - 560089 1Division of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesaraghatta Lake, Bengaluru, Karnataka560089 *Corresponding author: kriari25@gmail.com
Online Published on 02 May, 2022. Abstract Papaya has attained the status of 'Super food' with its inclusion in the daily dietary basket of people all around owing to its nutraceutical value. Being a polygamous species, determination of sex types in papaya proves to be a real challenging task. The aid of molecular technology has been proved to be quick and reliable in terms of identifying the sex types in plantlets growing in seedbed itself, which can save the resources and time. In the present study, sex linked DNA markers (sequence characterized amplified region or SCAR) were employed for validation of sex types in cv. Arka Surya and Inter-generic hybrid (IGH) seedlings and micro propagated plants of papaya before transplanting in the intended field. These markers were checked in gynodioecious genotypes and the results manifested clear segregation of female from hermaphrodite. Findings derived from three years in vitro maintained mother cultures were the same as those of mature papaya plants. In conclusion, the markers T12 and W11 were found the potential markers to identify the sex of papaya at seedling stage. The SCAR used in this study has shown the great implication in the selection of sex forms of papaya for tissue cultured plants. Top Keywords Carica papaya L, SCAR marker, Gynodioecious, Sex types. Top |